The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1887-07-06
south ksaYens Mnr.

SOUTH HAVEN, June 2S.-Qulte sensa-
ton occurred on our streets this morning.
The narrow gauge folks desired to lay
for turning purposes in one OF the streets
crossing their line and asked that privilege
of the village board, but were told that they
must first obtain consent of the citizens liv
ing in that vicinity. This they did not do,
but began laying the track which was the
first intimation the people in the vicinity
had of what was going on. Of course they
at once applied to the village president for a
stay of proceedings. In the meantime bav-
ing got little iron down, the railroad folks
ran on all the cars it would hold and when
ordered 10 remove them by the authorities
refused TO do so. AS they had large crew
of men it looked as though there might be
serious trouble. Mr.. George Hannahs who
owns considerable property in that neighbor-
hood and Mr.. John Mackey who lives near
by turned out to sustain the authorities and
the result was that the cars and engine were
peaceably removed and the track taken up.
The railroad folks claim they only want to
occupy the street for two or three weeks, but
some of the leading men in town and who
are intrusted with the matter, say that if the
is laid it will doubtless remain there for a
long time, as it is much easier to turn en-
-
kalamazoo Telegrdph.
The following from the South Haven Mes
Sebger seems to give the other side of the
controversy:
Mr.. EDIToR-I would like to ask, through
the medium of your columns, whether the
citizens of South Haven generally approve
of mob law. My impression is that they do
not, and | for one would be gratifed to OBJ
taf, &C ba
of the community from some of our citizens
who are really, not merely presumably, enti-
tied to be called leading citizens. The gath
ering of mob Tuesday on Maple street. led
by the president of the town council and
others whom | supposed were amongst the
first men in the village to assist in quelling a
riot or dispensing mob, was simply an in
suit to the law-abiding, better element of the
community.
The facts which call for the above COM
ments are about as follows The Il. d S. II
Il. Il. Co., through its employees, asked for
and obtained the consent of three of the
members and the president of the council, TO
construct side track on Maple street for
temporary use. This permission was OBJ
tanned on and previous to Saturday, the 25th
inst. On Tuesday morning, Mr.. Brott put
his gang of track layers at work constructing
the side track: soon thereafter he was mott
fed that the members of the council had
changed their minds. Our men kept right
on at work, as was their duty. | arrived on
the ground very shortly after Mr.. Brott had
put his men at work, and within half an hour
after | arrived, the president and one men,
Der of the council appeared on the scene
accompanied by one who, no doubt, considers
himself a prominent citiZen in fact he
proved himself very prominent in the events
which followed, and for his part In which he
ought TO be ashamed, If he is not. The
president of the council denied that he had
given Mr. Brott permission to do the work.
Mr.. Brott and myself were not conscious of
violating any law. We asked for permission
and obtained it, and thought it bad faith and
bad treatment on the part of the president
to be ordered off the work. So | simply
told the president of the council and those
with him that we were going to put in the
side track and if we were doing SO in viola
ton of the law, that they could invoke the
law for redress. This ended the parley and
president and others proceeded to organize a
mob, which they did, and came on the works
and proceeded to uncouple and unload the
cars and presented to me the alternative of
backing the train off the track or having it
derailed and removed, and probably de-
stroyed. Seeing that q collision between
our men and the mob was inevitable if we
held our ground, reluctantly ordered the
train off the side track and had to witness
the evidence of mob law. for once, in the
streets of South Haven.
mo one regrets this disgraceful affair more
than do. | have been told that if had
not been so abrupt in addressing the presi-
dent OF the council, he would not haye dis
graced himself by lending himself or the
influence of his official position to organize
and lead a mob to the destruction of private
property. / am indeed sorry that l offended
HIM or ruffied his sensitive feelings, but
have no apology to offer him for what / said.
/ am told he is easily "wheedled." am not
in the wheeling" business; life is too short
to waste time at it. But enough has been
said, and yet the half has not been told of
the true inwardness of the causes which led
up TO this on the part of few of our com
munity. 10 the regret of the large and better
majority" A. RYALI.